UK forwarders still face disruption at HK's Hutchison's Port of Felixstowe

BRITISH International Freight Association (BIFA) director general Robert Keen claims that its members are still facing 'significant problems' at the UK port of Felixstowe despite Hutchison Ports saying that its new terminal operating system is now 'stable.' According to Mr Keen, shipping lines have been cancelling port calls or operating a cut-and-run policy, where the ship leaves before all containers that are booked are loaded or discharged.

In response to the statement released by the port's owners, Mr Keen said its members 'are also experiencing knock-on effects at other UK ports where vessels are being diverted, causing additional cost and disruption.

'Previously BIFA has expressed its disappointment that the port authority which owns Felixstowe has made it clear that it does not consider BIFA members to be direct customers of the port and would not be willing to have a discussion about possible compensation for the damage caused and the increased costs that have been incurred by those members.

'We have made it clear to the port authority that BIFA believes that many of its members are the port's customer for the terminal processes that it undertakes after a vessel has been discharged for imports and prior to loading for export traffic.

'In our opinion, as the port authority produces a publicly available tariff detailing services being offered and the associated charges, and then either invoices the freight forwarder directly for these charges or grants credit facilities, all the elements of a contract between the port authority and our members are thus in place.

'The port authority does not accept this line of argument and we remain very disappointed that it is not even prepared to discuss any kind of compensation for such a complete failure in customer service.'